By Hassan Bruz, Makeni, Sierra Leone.
In compliance with the clarion call of His Excellency – President Ernest Bai Koroma for every well meaning Sierra Leonean to put aside petty differences and join hands in the fight against Ebola , the Minister of Youth Affairs Hon. Alimamy Kamara (photo) has donated over 200,000 United States dollars worth of hand washing items to various communities in Sierra Leone.
The items which included 200 sets of Veronica buckets and 15 barrels of chlorine of 45 kilograms each were intended for – Kailahun, Kenema, Moyamba, Bombali and Port Loko Districts. Nine hundred and fifty sets were slated for Kailahun, Three hundred for Kenema and Two hundred each for Moyamba, Bombali and Port Loko Districts respectively.
In Port Loko the presentation of the items was done at the Kamaranka Primary Health Centre by the Minister of Youth Affairs himself. At the brief but impressive ceremony where part of the estimated package of 221,000 United States dollars was officially handed over to the Port Loko District Health Management Team, the Minister said it was with support from Plan Sierra Leone and the National Youth Commission.
As is often the theme of most meetings in recent times, the Minister used the opportunity to outline the importance of collaborative efforts in the fight against this dreadful and ravaging disease. He noted how cultural beliefs and outright denials have resulted to an increase in the spread of the virus which he observed has now been experienced in almost every other district in the country.
Honourable Alimamy Kamara explained how more and more useful lives were being claimed by the virus on a daily basis. He cited the case of the many health workers with particular reference to the late Dr. Khan whom he said was his classmate at the St Francis Secondary School in Makeni. The Minister went further to explain how the prevalence of the disease had continued to debar all forms of development and the potential it has to wreak devastating havoc to the nation if the fight is not a concerted and non-partisan effort.
The Minister said he was very much mindful of the fact that the youths are one of the groups that were highly vulnerable to the Ebola disease. He said it was the reason his Ministry has resolved to be proactive. He explained how the youths are often required to play an active role is several aspects including surveillance, tracing and burial of Ebola related cases in the various localities.
Minister Kamara noted how they (the youths) could easily get infected in the execution of any of these functions. While urging for the judicious use of the items donated, the Minister cautioned against denials, and encouraged all to listen, respect and comply with the messages of the health workers who are more qualified in handling Ebola related cases in the country.
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